margaret thatcher

The spending for Margret Thatcher's funeral was a tremendous insult to the hard economic crisis that is affecting many countries, the UK included. In an era where people struggle to keep their jobs and to pay their bills, the government decided to spend about £10 million on the funeral of one person (who, despite being worshiped by some, affected negatively the lives of many).

The spending was justified by some- for example the Deputy Speaker Nigel Evans: "It is the right way to commemorate her life" and Prime Minister David Cameron: "What is happening today is absolutely fitting and right. She was the first woman prime minister, she served for longer in the job than anyone for 150 years, she achieved some extraordinary things in her life". However, many people were outraged. The Bishop of Grantham called the costs "a mistake" as "a funeral should be more low-key and personal".

Protesters gathered near St. Paul's (pictured above) to voice their dissidence against the cost of the commemoration, they waved placards reading "Rest of us in Poverty" and "Rest in Shame" and wore t-shirts with messages such as "Society does exist".

Erik Redli is a university graduate from Slovakia who is currently living in London. Each week he gives his view on the events of the last seven days. This week, he looks at his experience of Margaret Thatcher's funeral, and the Boston Marathon bombings.

"London lives with two main events this week in mid-April."

The Iron Lady's Funeral

"Even the most alien visitor must have realized that something big was happening in London on Wednesday. Who knows if there would have been 8 police officers deployed inside the St Paul's tube alone if not for the Boston marathon tragedy that showed the extraordinary security measures needed. Even the security guys from the nearby building stood out in the streets to look like important.

Outside the station I tried to make a photo of a leaflet lying on the street inviting me to some kind of Thatcher party. But it was blown away by the wind the moment I approached it. Respecting the right for eternal rest, I joined the other mourners and visitors.

We were ushered by the police and organizers to the improvised corridor that took us to the ticket entrance at St Paul's Cathedral. No further, as it was only for the family, invited politicians and personalities. I would like to meet Henry Kissinger or Boris Johnson, but it is not polite to talk inside a church anyway.

With ex-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's funeral having taken place this morning, student writer Erik gives his view on her life and death and the way he has seen the British respond to her. 

"I can not omit a few lines about the Iron Lady...

The death of Margaret Thatcher has brought out so many different reactions.

Sitting on the tube in the morning, her face was looking at me from the front page of the newspapers. Even the fans of One Direction on Twitter were asking whether she was a friend of the band members after seeing their condolence. At least the young have taken notice.

Many people on both sides of the political spectrum consider her the greatest Prime Minister since Winston Churchill. He was also both loved and loathed. But while Churchill was switching between parties according to his political tastes, Thatcher introduced politics of different taste to one party.

No politician can appeal to all- that is one of the truths of the occupation. During Thatcher's time in office, Britain won the Falkland Islands, but wasted lives in the conflict in Northern Ireland. She supported individualism and enabled people to buy their own houses; but on the other hand, they were cut short of milk. She helped to end the communist era, but critics suggest that the foundations for the crisis were laid down at the same time.

Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher died yesterday at the age of 87. She was the first (and still only) female PM and ruled Britain for 11 years during the turbulent 1980's. She divided opinion more so than almost any other public figure, and the reaction to her death reflects this.

On the one hand, she is to be given a ceremonial funeral at St Paul's Cathedral, taking the same status as Princess Diana and the Queen Mother, whilst on the other, there is still a lot of anger towards her for many of her policies during her time in power. There is the contrast of hundreds of bunches of flowers left in condolence at her London home, and crowds gathering to celebrate her death in Brixton (an area that saw fierce riots during Thatcher's time in charge).

We've gathered together some of the reaction to her death from world leaders, newspapers and celebrities on Twitter.

British & World Leaders

After hearing of Lady Thatcher's death, current and former leaders from Britain and around the world led a chorus of condolences.